The assault on surveillance video matches the description of an alleged March 2016 incident that Cassie, formerly known as Cassie Ventura and who now also uses her married name of Cassandra Fine, he had detailed in a sexual assault, sex trafficking and battery lawsuit he had filed against Combs in November 2023 and was settled a day later. At the time, the producer's attorney told E! News in a statement that “Mr. Combs' decision to settle the lawsuit in no way undermines his categorical denial of the claims.”
Combs still faces five other civil lawsuits filed in New York since last fall, accusing him of sexual assault, sex trafficking and other criminal activity. He has denied all the allegations.
The Grammy winner also remains the subject of a federal investigation following raids on his properties in California and Florida in March. A source familiar with the investigation told NBC News at the time that the probe came amid a wave of lawsuits filed against him and that federal officials have already interviewed three people in connection with allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and solicitation. and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.
One of Combs' attorneys told NBC News in a statement after the raids that the rapper “was never arrested, but spoke and cooperated with authorities” and that his client is innocent and “will continue to fight every day to clear his name.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Read on to learn more about Combs' legal troubles…
